From the iconic elevator ascent of Snake on Shadow Moses to the gripping mentor-student confrontation in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear franchise stands as a testament to the power of video game storytelling. Spanning multiple console generations, the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss have become legendary, often heralded as some of the most impactful releases in gaming history.
In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain marked what many believed to be the series' end, following Kojima's departure from Konami. However, the saga has been revitalized with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. As new players dive into this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and iconic characters, understanding the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series can enhance their experience. Below, we've outlined the timeline for both newcomers and returning fans.
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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear series encompasses 17 games: 11 mainline titles, five handheld entries, and one mobile game. While this may seem extensive, several of these are non-canon, branching into alternate narratives within the universe.
Metal Gear Survive, set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, falls outside the main canon. The PSP titles, Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2, diverge from the main timeline, serving as alternate-universe spin-offs. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color presents an alternate sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thus excluding it from the main timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake’s Revenge are considered non-canon by both the community and Kojima.
This leaves 11 games as part of the main storyline, tracing the Metal Gear Saga from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore each of these games in chronological order.
Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?
For those eager to delve into the entire saga, we recommend starting with the 2023 Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the definitive versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For those looking to sample the series or who prefer more modern gameplay, we suggest beginning with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order
These summaries contain mild spoilers, including characters, settings, and key plot points.
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The saga begins with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, set during the Cold War. Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, is tasked with extracting a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. His mission takes a shocking turn when he discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a brutal defeat and near-death experience, Snake is ordered to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and stop the Shagohod. By the end, Snake adopts the name Big Boss, but his journey leaves him disillusioned with his government.Read our Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review or see updates about the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.
2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Six years later, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he confronts his former FOX Unit, now rogue and staging a revolt. Captured and accused of treason, Big Boss escapes and seeks to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene. The game concludes with Big Boss thwarting Gene's plan to create Army's Heaven and using the amassed resources to form FOXHOUND.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and founded Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They intervene in Costa Rica against the Peace Sentinels, who possess nuclear weapons and the Peace Walker mech. Big Boss uncovers The Boss's involvement and battles Paz, a Cipher agent, at the end.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Months after Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue to The Phantom Pain. Big Boss learns Paz survived and is being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. He infiltrates the base, encounters the XOF led by Skull Face, and extracts Paz, only to find Motherbase under attack, leaving him near death.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Nine years later, The Phantom Pain follows a recovering Big Boss, now Venom Snake, leading the Diamond Dogs. He pursues the rogue XOF and their leader, Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon. The game ends with Big Boss setting the stage for Outer Heaven, a sanctuary for soldiers.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
6. Metal Gear
Eleven years later, the original Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member under Big Boss's command. Sent to Outer Heaven to stop the construction of the Metal Gear mech, Snake uncovers Big Boss's betrayal.Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Four years later, Solid Snake returns to thwart Big Boss's new Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land, engaging in intense battles.See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
8. Metal Gear Solid
Six years after Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake confronts his former FOXHOUND unit, now rogue and threatening nuclear war from Shadow Moses. He battles members like Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and faces Liquid Snake, before faking his death.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid or see more of the best PS1 games.
9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Two years later, a rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop a new Metal Gear, only to be framed for its destruction. The story shifts to Raiden, a FOXHOUND agent, who infiltrates Big Shell to rescue the US president, uncovering deeper conspiracies and meeting Solid Snake.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty or check out more of the best PS2 games.
10. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Three years after Sons of Liberty, an aging Solid Snake, now Old Snake, embarks on his final mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new Outer Heaven. Snake battles his deteriorating health and the FOXDIE virus to confront his nemesis.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Four years after Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance follows Raiden, now a cyborg, as he works for Maverick Security Consulting. Attacked by Desperado Enforcement, Raiden uncovers dark secrets and seeks justice.Read our review of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
How to Play the Metal Gear Games by Release Date
Metal Gear (1987)Snake’s Revenge (1990)Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)Metal Gear Solid (1998)Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel (2000)Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)Metal Gear Solid: Acid (2004)Metal Gear Solid: Acid 2 (2005) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) Metal Gear Solid: Mobile (2008) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013) Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) Metal Gear Survive (2018)Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (2025)What’s Next for Metal Gear?
Despite seeming to conclude in 2015, the Metal Gear series is set for a revival with the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a ground-up remake of Snake Eater, slated for release on August 28, 2025. While Konami has not confirmed new original entries without Kojima, Virtuous Studios hinted at potential remakes of other Metal Gear games based on player demand.Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist
Here are all the standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, in order of release. Log in to rank them, mark games owned, completed, or create a game plan for what to play next.See All
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